FIVE PRIMARY RACES IN CAPE COUNTY

JACKSON - There will be five primary election contests in Cape Girardeau County in August - two involving county commission seats, two for coroner, and a race for treasurer.

Two incumbents, Democratic Assessor Jerry Reynolds and Republican Sheriff Norman Copeland, escaped without opposition as filing for offices on the 1992 ballot closed Tuesday afternoon.

Several party leaders and officeholders kept close tabs on the office of County Clerk Rodney Miller during the day checking on last minute filings.

Filings closed for all offices at the county, state and federal levels on the 1992 ballot at 5 p.m. yesterday.

First District Associate Commissioner Leonard F. Sander of Jackson, who has been elected to eight two-year terms, drew a last-day challenge in the Republican primary from Larry Bock of Gordonville. The winner will face Democrat George Cox, of Delta, who has no opposition in the primary.

In the 2nd District, Associate Commissioner E.C. Younghouse has no GOP opposition in his bid for a fourth term, but has two Democrats from Cape Girardeau vying for the right to challenge him in November. Seeking the Democratic nomination are Peter Kim Choi and Clyde "Lanny" Smith.

There are races for coroner on both party tickets for the primary.

On the Republican side, John Carpenter, seeking a second term, drew a challenge from Edward A. Frenzel of Jackson, who unsuccessfully sought the nomination four years ago. Roger Moore, who had filed on the Republican ticket, withdrew his candidacy Tuesday.

Democrat Harold Cobb, who is seeking to re-gain the office he lost to Carpenter in 1988, drew a primary challenge on the last day from Jimmy Dale Sullins of Cape Girardeau.

In the only other contested county primary, Treasurer Bill Reynolds, a Republican seeking a fourth term, received a last-minute challenge from Republican Edwin "Pete" Rhodes of Cape Girardeau.

The winner of the primary will face Democrat Orval Thorne of Jackson in November.

Two offices with candidates already in place for the general election in November are treasurer and public administrator.

Republican John Ferguson is opposed for a second term as public administrator by Tom Boston of Cape Girardeau.

Also filing this week was Carlston E. Friese, a Republican, who is unopposed for county surveyor.

Copeland is seeking a third term as sheriff and Reynolds is seeking a fifth term in the assessor's office.

Tuesday also was the deadline for candidates to file for positions on the Democratic and Republican county central committees. Those posts will be filled in the primary election.